Skip to main content

Amazon’s new Kindle Scribe turns the e-reader into the ultimate notepad

Just over a week ago, Amazon added four new members to its Fire family of budget tablets. And today, during its Devices and Services event, Amazon announced it is bringing some of the tablet fun to its Kindle e-reader portfolio. And by tablet fun, we mean the ability to draw gibberish on the screen with a stylus.

If you’ve ever looked longingly at the reMArkable 2 paper tablet and wished that the stylus input somehow made it to a Kindle, your prayers have been answered. Say hello to the Kindle Scribe, Amazon’s next-gen e-book reader that will let you scribble with a stylus.

Related Videos
Amazon Kindle Scribe.
Amazon

Kindle Scribe starts at $340 for the base variant with 16GB of onboard storage. There are also 32GB and 64GB variants on the table. Pre-orders have already gone live and will be shipping later this year.

But let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Note series phones, there’s no silo or garage on the device to house that pencil-like stylus. Needless to say, you’ll have to tuck it securely with a folio case to keep it from getting misplaced or pray that the magnets hold it securely.

Amazon Kindle Scribe.
Amazon

Now, let’s talk about the good part. The design is reminiscent of the Kindle Oasis, with symmetrical bezels on three sides and a disproportionately thick bezel coverage alongside one of the vertical edges.

Thoughtful and convenient

The thick bezels serve an important purpose, as they allow you to hold the device comfortably without worrying about the palm area nagging you with false touch inputs on the screen.

Amazon Kindle Scribe.
Amazon

On Kindle Scribe, that thick bezel is even more important, because you’ll need to hold the device even more firmly if you want to jot down notes on it. Up front, you get a 10.2-inch front-lit anti-glare display with a sweet 300ppi pixel density. In typical Kindle fashion, Amazon says the battery will last you for “weeks and weeks.”

I need this in my life.

Amazon says the Kindle Scribe is well-suited for journaling, destroying your e-book collection with underlines, and document annotation, among others. There’s also a sketching template if you spontaneously feel artistic.

Amazon Kindle Scribe.
Amazon

No pairing shenanigans are needed for the included pen, as it works right out of the box. And the best part is that the stylus comes bundled with Kindle Scribe at no additional cost. Since you will be taking lots of notes, Amazon is dutifully shipping a sticky notes feature, too.

The stylus, on the other hand, keeps things simple. It has a shortcut button and an old-school eraser mechanism. The pen will be sold in Basic and Premium flavors, with the latter offering the eraser mechanism.

Kindle Scribe.

All your notes are synced to the cloud and can be accessed on a phone via the Kindle app. Another thoughtful convenience is that you can wirelessly transfer documents from your PC or phone to the Kindle Scribe.

Coming in 2023, the device will also support exporting documents right from Microsoft Word. But hey, it’s also a Kindle at the end of the day, which means you get access to Amazon’s eponymous library of e-books with thousands of titles.

Of course, it’s also a subscription vehicle, offering users access to free monthly books and fresh library additions via the Prime and Kindle Unlimited subscriptions.

Editors' Recommendations

A new Motorola Razr is coming soon, and it could be the best one yet
Folding the new Motorola razr.

Just a little over six months after Motorola launched its Razr (2022) folding phone, the company has confirmed that another Razr foldable is in the works. But not only that, it sounds like Motorola's next Razr will be here a lot sooner than we expected.

Speaking to CNBC, Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang said that a new version of the Motorola Razr will be released "very soon," while also noting that reception to the Razr foldable lineup has been "good." And compared to past versions of the Razr, Yang also went on to say that he thinks the new 2023 model is "much better."
The Motorola Razr story so far

Read more
Our 5 favorite iPhone and Android apps by Black developers
An iPhone with apps from Black developers downloaded on it.

As we wrap up the celebration of 2023's Black History Month, it remains important to recognize and appreciate the contributions that Black people have made in various fields, including technology and the smartphone apps we use every day. From social media platforms to productivity tools, Black developers and other people of color have worked hard to create innovative, useful, and just plain fun apps.

Here, we're focusing on five helpful apps developed by Black people that you should check out. These iPhone and Android apps range from ones that help you discover and support Black-owned businesses to ones that provide legal assistance in case of an emergency to ones that curate and highlight sources of news and entertainment by Black creators.
We Read Too

Read more
Amazon just added 3 of the Kindle Scribe’s biggest missing features
Someone writing on the Amazon Kindle Scribe.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe is an excellent e-book reader and note-taking device, and thanks to an update that went live today, it just got even better. Announced on February 27, the update adds three key features many Scribe owners have been waiting on since the device launched in 2022. The update aims to make using the Scribe seamless, highlighting what makes it more advantageous than using simple pen and paper.

The first key feature that's debuting on the Scribe with today's update highlights new brush types. Joining the ranks of the pen and highlighter that have been available for use since the Scribe launched are fountain pen, marker, and pencil options. Each new type of pen has its own specialties and uses, just like the real-world counterparts, and makes the most out of the Scribe's enhanced pressure and tilt capabilities.

Read more